Envelope stripping device



April 7, 1959 H. M. WHITMAN 2,880,799

' ENVELOPE STRIPPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR.

April 7, 1959 H; M. WHITMAN 2,880,799

ENVELOPE STRIPPING DEVICE Filed sept. 1o, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR. H. M. W H\TMAN nrramvey United States Patent() z,sso,199

ENvELorn STRIPPING DEVICE Harlan M. Whitman, Minneapolis, Minn. Application september 1o, 1956, serial No. 6os,915

s claims. rc1. 164-36) This invention relates to envelope separating or stripping machines or devices and more particularly to a device which may Ibe operated Iby hand to separate a series of envelopes from a backing sheet to which the envelopes are attached in closely adjacent relation to each other.

An object of importance of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device that may be mounted on an office table and through which the backing sheet and envelopes may be pulled, there being a -blade forming part of the device over which the envelopes pass while being stripped and while the backing sheet is being manually pulled below the blade.

A feature of importance of the invention enabling the envelopes to be readily separated is that the device has a base with a wide at surface over which closely lies a wide blade so that the envelopes and rbacking sheet may be drawn past the blade.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide means to separate or strip envelopes shown in my patent No. 2,723,077 granted November 8, 1955, from their backing sheet, the supplemental flaps extending laterally from the envelopes being torn from the ends of their envelope panel along their lines of perforations during the stripping operation.

Another important feature of the invention is that guiding means are provided for the lbacking sheet and envelopes as they are pulled through the device, also spring detent or depressing means are provided which hold the supplemental flaps of the envelopes closely against the surface of the base member as the envelopes are being separated from the backing sheet and supplemental aps.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this speciiication, I have shown the invention embodied in a simple device which operates without moving parts, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1` is a plan view of a complete device in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the device taken on the plane of line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device with envelopes and their ybacking sheet being pulled therethrough; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the envelope stripper shown in the preceding figures.

In the above mentioned drawing, there has been shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l 2,880,799 Patented Apr. 7, 1.959

Brieily and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include the following principal parts: First, a base member or board having a depending ilange adapted to lit over the edge of a table; second, a blade member extending substantially the full width of the device and spaced slightly from the upper surface of the base; third, a strip extending parallel to and above the blade member and spaced therefrom; fourth, means adjustable on said strip for resiliently pressing the supplemental aps extending from the lateral edges of the envelopes closely against the upper surface of the base member; and fifth, guiding means adapted to be positioned on the base to aid in guidirg the backing sheet past the separating blade member.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing and iirst to Figs. l and 2, it will be seen that the device comprises a base 10 having a wide depending ilange 12 adapted to fit over the edge of a table or other supporting surface. Below the base member 10 may be attached a soft pad 11 of rubber or other resilient material. On this 'base 10 is secured at its opposite ends a blade member 14 extending substantially the entire width of the base. This blade member 14 is slightly spaced above the upper surface of the base 1t) in a plane parallel thereto as by means of spacers 16 permanently secured adhesively or otherwise between the blade member 14 and base 10. The central portion of the blade member 14 is greatly widened and its envelope engaging edge is bevelled as shown at 18 to aid in separating the envelopes 30 along the line of perforations -between the rear panel and supplemental aps 34.

Above the -blade member 14 and secured in parallel relation thereto is an elongated strip 20. Preferably and as shown, this strip 20 is secured to the blade member 14 by spacers 22 at the opposite ends of the strip and directly above the spacers 16 for the blade member. These spacers 16 and 22 may be attached to the blade member and strip adhesively. Slidable along the strip 20 are spring members 24 -bent into the form of a loop with the free end bent back upon itself and resiliently bearing against the upper surface of the base 10. The opposite ends of these looped spring members 24 are bent loosely around strip 20 so that the loop members 24 may be slidably positioned at any point along the strip.

To aid in guiding the envelope assembly A through the device rubber lor other members 26 may be positioned on the base member 10 slightly beyond the lateral edges of the backing strip 28. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the guide means 26 are held in position on the base 10 by suction action, the guide members being pressed firmly downward against the base to eiect this engagement.

In operation the backing sheet 28 shown in Fig. 3 to which the envelopes 30 are secured closely adjacent each other and with the sealing flap 32 of each envelope 30 underlying the body portion of the trailing envelope is threaded below the blade member 14. The leading envelope 30 is guided over the blade member 14 and the spring members 24 adjusted along the strip 20 so that they will ride over the supplemental flaps 34 extending laterally from opposite ends of the envelopes 30. As the backing sheet 28 is pulled in the ydirection of the arrow, the envelopes 30 are successively stripped from the sheet. This separation occurs along the line of perforations between the envelope body 30 and the supplemental aps 34. The suplemental aps 34 remain attached to the backing sheet 28 while the envelopes 30 ride loosely on its upper surface.

I claim as my invention:

l. An envelope stripping device comprising a base member, a blade member thereon spaced above the base member and extending in a plane parallel thereto, a strip extending above said blade member and spring members secured at one end to said strip adapted to resiliently press assofaa against said `base member, whereby an envelope assembly may be passed through said device below said spring mem'- bers and the envelope separated from their supporting member.

2. An envelope stripping device comprising a `base member, a blade member thereon spaced above the base member and extending in a plane parallel thereto, a transverse strip secured in xed position above said blade member and having spring members thereon adapted to press against said base member, whereby an envelope assembly may be passed through said device below said strip and spring members and With the envelope supporting member below the blade member and with the envelopes above the blade member.

3. A device for stripping a succession of envelopes supported adjacent each other on a backing sheet, said envcllopes having Yflaps laterally extending therefrom secured vto* said'b'aekingsheet, said device `comprising a base member, a -blade member fixedly supported slightly above said base member, and spring pressed members supported above said base member and positioned to press against said lateral flaps of the envelope as said envelopes and backing sheet are passed through the device, whereby said blade member will sever said-envelopes from their laterally extending aps.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,895 Donnell et al June 17, 1924 2,162,053 vBlatt June 13, 1939 2,308,551 Sherman Jan. 19, 1943 2,781,572 Anderson Feb. 19, 1957 

